Before then, England had been principally dependent upon Dutchmen and Venetians, both for ships of war and merchantmen.

The sovereign had neither naval arsenals nor dockyards, nor any regular establishment of civil or naval affairs to provide ships of war.

Sir Edward Howard, Lord High Admiral of England, at the accession of Henry VIII., actually entered into a "contract" with that monarch to fight his enemies.
This singular document is still preserved in the State Paper office.
Even after the establishment of royal dockyards, the sovereign--as late as the reign of Elizabeth--entered into formal contracts with shipwrights for the repair and maintenance of ships, as well as for additions to the fleet.
The King, having made his first effort at establishing a royal navy, sent the fleet to sea against the ships of France.

The Regent was the ship royal, with Sir Thomas Knivet, Master of the Horse, and Sir John Crew of Devonshire, as Captains.

The fleet amounted to twenty-five well furnished ships.